Due to an accident, Hugo Darracott becomes the heir to the Darracott estates, to the fury of his grandfather, who disowned Hugo's father for marrying “a weaver's daughter”. Lord Darracott presumed that a career as a soldier would “take care” of Hugo, but this has not happened, so the “weaver's brat” is ordered to present himself at the family mansion to be “licked into shape”. Many shocks are in store for the various family members, as Hugo is not at all the sort of man they expected, but they live to be very thankful that he came to live with them. When Lord Darracott's favourite grandchild, Richmond, becomes involved in smuggling, Hugo is the one who saves Richmond from the law, and is, through this, instrumental in helping Richmond achieve his burning desire to become a soldier. Hugo also finds time to fall in love with Richmond's sister, Anthea, and it becomes plain that he will not only rescue Richmond, but he will also rescue the family fortunes and restore life to a crumbling dynasty.